Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-08-05

that in which the natural article could be
brought to safe stop within tenth OF
secondi
1t now remained only to put the nnishing
touches on nv "mothern in completing her
attire and adornment. Igave careful attention
to the details of these, for knew that those
twins were very sharp fellows, and did not
propose to give them any ground for irrever-
ence or even criticism in the appearance Of
the lady who was to stand to them in l co
matris. One of Pollys nursery gowns, with
the color of which the twins We're perfectly
familiar, was skillfully distracted from her
wardrobe and gracefully draped round the
another" whose arms and breast had first
been carefully padded.
The face was delcately touched up by my
artist friend whom had finally been obliged
to take into my confidence, until it wore an
air of maternal affection and solicitude
almost surprising that Of the original; and
the hair (which was one of the most expen-
sive items of my purchased paraphernalia)
was arranged as nearly as possible in the
regular "disarrangement" to which the babies
were accustomed.
This found difficult to effect without i'm
pairing the safety of the fastenings, and l
dreaded somewhat the chance Of one of the
| twins in an enterprising moment giving
| grab at the eight ringlet just sweeping his
| face" but it was a risk that had to he in
| Cured.
And now she was complete and my heart
beat high with triumph and expectation, and
| visions came before me of the time when,
| with a whole team of artificial mothers"
| grooming peace and comfort through the
| house, Polly and could roam away in bliss
| full idleness and renew the days of our youth.
A carefully prepared rag baby was laid in
| the arms of the expectant mother, the two
sets of works were wound up, the starting
springs touched, and the rocking and fond
ling and grooming commenced with such per-
feet naturalness, grace and harmony that l
was carried away by my delight and caught
myself saying: "My dear, you are a grand
success and reflect credit on your maker"
put on the stops and the baby dropped
with an easy motion OF the arms into the
'motbers" lap, the grooming softened down
into the gentle murmur Of the piano." then
ceased altogether. and the mother sat looking
at her sleeping child with an aspect of such
calm dignity and sweet motherliness that !
was irresstibly impelled to give her kis,
of husbandly approval.
"What would Polly say7" thought as !
wiped from my lips the slight touch left ON
them by the damp paint. Removing the
rag baby, l lifted with some effort the chair
containing my handiwork down to the door
of my parlor, which, since the advent of the
twins, had been appropriated by them as a
special private nursery, where my occasional
presence was permitted only ON sufferance.
The moment seemed propitious for my ex
pertinent
could hear the twins yelling with vocif
erous indignation for their slave Polly, who
had evidently been called into the farther
nursery by some outbreak among their prede-
cessors. Iopened the door, placed the rock
ing chair costly in front of the fire. smoothed
down the drapery and loosened out the hair of
its occupant, and gently laid twin in each
arm. A touch on the springs and the arms
moved up, clasping the still camorous in
fants to her breast, the head bent over, the
feet touched the floor, impelling the chair
with uniform swing, and with an equally
uniform monotony the steady waves of the
grooming poured forth from her lips.
The twins hushed their angry complaining,
and looked up inquiringly at the being to
whom their destiny tin the shape of their
father had contided them. 1t was a moment
of terrible suspense IT their keen perceptions
discovered the fraud, if they decided that in
addition to the creature comforts of warmth
and motion, and noise, it was essential to
their happiness to have also the "je ne sails
quot" of motherliness that my substitute could
not bestow upon them; if lin the language of
the day. their unsatisfed yearnings revealed
to them that their souls were not fed and
their sensibilities not ministered to, my beau
tiful theories would fall baseless to the ground
and my labor and hopes would, indeed, have
been in vain.
But no! Firmly held in the warm embrace
of the untiring arms. evenly rocked in the
steady swing of the chair, and dinned into
Inconsistencies by the unbroken stream Of
sound, they stlled their noisy complainings.
accepted the situation, and relapsed into q
state of blissful contentment and repose. l..
was evident that babies had no souls that
need administering to, and my artificial
mother" was success. threw myself into
an easy chair, with the consciousness that |
had done great work for the world, for NV
SELF for Polly.
Just then l heard her step approaching
The sudden cessation of the wonted cries had
alarmed her keen ear, and she came flying in.
looking, with the flush of haste and alarm
upon her face, especially pretty and charm
ing.
"Our new nurse, my DEAR" l said, waving
my hand toward the chair.
"a friend who has come in to lend hand y
proceeded rather incoherently. seeing that
Polly stood aback with doubt, bewilderment
and vague apprehension.
sin short, my dear, my new artificial
mother" | burst out i'll desperation, as she
stood still and stared, while the rocking wen,
on without ceasng, and the Grooming started
on the higher key.
"Artiicial what?" cried Polly "Oh, Tom.
what frightful experiments are YOU making
with my blessed boys? Let me have them at
once" she cried, rushing at the figure.
But the babies were but clutched the tight
err, the chair swung more swiftly, and the
Grooming" burst into louder strain with
what sounded like defiant ring.
"Give me my children" shrieked Polly
trying to check the ceasel IS swing Of the
chair, but the another" continued iinpertur.
bable and answered her vehemence with ,
bland, fixed smile.
"Ton, help me; the thing is a demon! 7
screamed Polly in desperation, pulling fran
) tically at the mothers arms. But, even a,
! she spoke, the swinging redoubled in velocity
until the two babies grew black in the face
and seemed merged into one. The Grooming
burst into savage roar, as if, indeed, fienu